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Romans 2 is the second chapter of the Epistle to the Romans in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle, but written by an amanuensis, Tertius, while Paul was in Corinth, in winter of AD 57-58. Paul wrote to the Roman Christians in order to give them a substantial resume of his theology. Although "the main theme of the Epistle [is] the doctrine of justification by faith", in verse 6 Paul "lays down with unmistakable definiteness and precision the doctrine that works, what a man has done, the moral tenor of his life, will be the standard by which he will be judged at the last day".
Contents
Text
Structure
The New King James Version organises this chapter as follows:
The New International Version treats Romans 2:17-29 as a single section entitled "The Jews and the Law".
No partiality with God
New King James Version
For there is no partiality with God.Cross reference: Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34
Circumcision
Paul refers to circumcision as a physical mark of Jewish identity, but for a Jew who breaks the law it becomes a sign of contradiction: "your circumcision has become uncircumcision" (Romans 2:25). The prophet Jeremiah had spoken of those who were "circumcised yet uncircumcised" (Jeremiah 9:25, Holman Christian Standard Bible translation). Paul reiterates the teaching of Moses that:
He is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter (Romans 2:25),drawing on Moses' words in Deuteronomy 30:6:
The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.